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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/128907
Interaction modes between nanosized grapheneflakes and liposomes: adsorption, insertion and membrane fusion
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Background: Understanding the effects of graphene-based nanomaterials on lipid membranes is critical to determine their environmental impact and their efficiency in the biomedical context. Graphene has been reported to favourably interact with biological and model lipid membranes. Methods: We report on a systematic coarse-grained molecular dynamics study of the interaction modes of graphene nanometric flakes with POPC/cholesterol liposome membranes. We have simulated graphene layers with a variety of sizes and oxidation degrees, and we have analyzed the trajectories, the interaction modes, and the energetics of the observed phenomena.Results:Three interaction modes are reported. Graphene can be transiently adsorbed onto the liposome membrane and/or inserted in its hydrophobic region. Inserted nanosheets prefer a perpendicular orientation, and tilt in order to maximize the contact with phospholipid tails while avoiding the contact with cholesterol molecules.When placed between two liposomes, graphene facilitates their fusion in a single vesicle. Conclusions: Graphene can be temporary adsorbed on the liposome before insertion. Bilayer curvature has an influence on the orientation of inserted graphene particles. Cholesterol molecules are depleted from the surrounding of graphene particles. Graphene layers may catalyse membrane fusion by bypassing the energy barrier required in stalk formation. General significance: Nanometric graphene layers can be adsorbed/inserted in lipid-based membranes in different manners and affect the cholesterol distribution in the membrane, implying important consequences on the structure and functionality of biological cell membranes, and on the bioaccumulation of graphene in living organisms. The graphene-mediated mechanism opens new possibilities for vesicle fusion in the experimental context.
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SANTIAGO PIERA, Raul and REIGADA SANZ, Ramon. Interaction modes between nanosized grapheneflakes and liposomes: adsorption, insertion and membrane fusion. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta-General Subjects. 2019. Vol. 1863, num. 4, pags. 723-731. ISSN 0304-4165. [consulted: 15 of October of 2026]. Available at: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/128907